Calling all Manchester food innovators: a unique new waterside dining destination wants you!

Blend Family, a food hall operator will manage the 25,000 square feet of foodie experiences in Central Bay.

Five specially adapted shipping containers will serve as street vendor kitchens called Kargo MKT.

Matt Bigland, Founder and Managing Director at Blend Family, said they are now looking for a diverse set of food partners representing a broad range of cuisine to help populate Karkgo MKT, with an interesting selection of food and drink.

Not only will the chosen food partners be given their very own professional kitchen, but they’ll also receive mentoring on how to establish good business practices and operating systems, as well as coaching on how to develop, build, and market their brand, through mentoring and coaching programme ‘Recipe4Success’.

Future Food Stars, the program for selected businesses, provides access to mentoring and coaching through Recipe4Success from GC Business Growth Hub.

Recipe4Success is a comprehensive programme of support for Greater Manchester-based SME food and drink businesses with the aspiration to grow.

Taking businesses to the next level with our tailored series of food and drink-specific workshops and networking events designed to help overcome barriers and succeed.

So if you know an amazing local independent food business who are looking to spread their wings, why not let them know?

Anyone with a passion for food can apply now through Blend Family’s website – applications close on Friday 9^th June.

You can apply by clicking here. 

The ethos of supporting local independents is a legacy of MediaCity’s successful Box on the Docks initiative, which supports local traders. Sourcing and recruiting, local, emerging talent sits at the heart of MediaCity and Quayside’s strategy and Central Bay is set to continue that legacy.

Matt Bigland, Founder and Managing Director at Blend Family, said: “This is going to be the biggest foodhall and street market we’ve operated in the North, so we’re looking for a diverse set of food partners to be a part of this incredible space.

“Our goal is to bring together a community of talented chefs representing a broad range of cuisine – offering guests a trip around the globe one authentic dish at a time.

“We know from personal experience – we ran gastro pubs early in our career – how daunting your first steps into the industry can be.

“We love ambitious people who are willing to give it a go and nothing makes us prouder than watching food start-ups flourish in our venues. If this opportunity sounds up your street, then we’d love to hear from you.”

Marc Appleton, Business Advisor Lead for Recipe4Success adds: “Starting a venture like this can be scary, that’s why it’s great that we’re working with Blend Family to give expert advice to the vendors.

“Recipe4Success has a long history of helping food businesses grow across Greater Manchester.

“From food safety to developing new products we’ll help guide these Future Food Stars through their journey starting up a successful foodhall kitchen business.”

Earmarked for a Summer 2023 launch, Central Bay will be one of the biggest independent food and drink operations in the North; it will house a foodhall of 13 kitchens, five street kitchens, pop-up events, indie markets, live music performances and recreation space for children, with more announcements set to be made in the coming months.

Central Bay will include a foodhall with 13 kitchens, five street kitchens, pop-up events, indie markets, live music performances, and recreation space for children.

The deadline for applications for Kargo MKT is Friday, June 9, 2023. You can apply by clicking here.

More information can be requested via [email protected]